WATCH the emotional homecoming as Filey coronavirus patient Shaun Sullivan leaves hospital after 14 weeks

Shaun Sullivan – known as Sully to many – was in an induced coma for eight weeks and his family was told several times he might not make it.

His brother, Paul Sullivan, said: “We’ve had so many ups and so many downs, we just had to take each day as it came. We didn’t want to get our hopes up.

“It’s been so emotional. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

Shaun, 52, fell ill back in March. When Paul went to check on how he was, he discovered his younger brother clearly very sick and struggling to breathe.

“He was grey and like a fish out of water, gulping for air,” said Paul, 54.

An ambulance came and took Shaun to hospital.

“His doctor rang me later and said if I hadn’t got him in, he would have been dead by tea time,” Paul said.

Shaun, who has underlying health issues including diabetes and which have seen him needing his spleen removed, was put on a ventilator and into a coma.

Originally he was treated at Scarborough Hospital but his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to York Hospital.

“He was up and down all the time,” said Paul.

“One doctor would ring and say he’s not doing too bad, then another would ring and ask to talk about resuscitation.”

He said it was incredibly difficult not being able to visit his brother.

Finally, after eight weeks, Shaun was brought out of the coma and his condition continued to improve.

He was able to speak to his brother and sister Alice Lavery via Skype and last week he received the news he would

finally leave hospital.

Last Friday he arrived at his brother’s home in Pasture Crescent, where he is staying while he continues to recover, to the applause and cheers of around 30 neighbours and well-wishers.

Paul said Shaun – who has lost four-and-a-half stone while being ill – still has a long recovery ahead of him but it is “brilliant” to have him home.

Whenever he has been out of the house these last 14 weeks, he has been stopped by people asking how his brother is doing.

“He’s a well-liked guy in Filey,” said Paul.

Shaun described his welcome home as “fantastic”.

“I expected one or two people but never 30,” he said.

“I’d like to thank all the staff at York Hospital on the ICU and Ward 36 for all they’ve done for me, and the staff on Scarborough’s Cherry Ward, and our lad for not

letting me die. I can’t thank him enough.”

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